Middle Gate

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    The exhibition project Middle Gate II – The Story of Dymphna is a collaboration between M HKA (Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp) and the cultural centre de Werft in Geel. Middle Gate II is the follow up to the exhibition Middle Gate, curated by Jan Hoet in Geel in 2013. The exhibition concept is closely tied to the legend of the holy Dymphna, saint of the possessed, the mentally ill and patroness against epilepsy and insanity. The legend of Dymphna shares a strong connection to the identity of Geel, "the charitable city".

    Jan Cox

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    (c)image: M HKA
    Verkrachte vrouw bleek niet dood
    Jan Cox
    Drawing , 600 x 455 mm
    collage, colored pencil and newspaper article on paper

    Cox's later work is marked by profound reflections on worldly reality and life.  These are pieces where aspects of inner emotionality and outer engagement are woven together.  Something hardly strange, if we consider that during this time Cox suffered from emotionally exhausting manic-depressive episodes, with periods of hyperactivity followed by heavy downs.

    During this time, after The Iliad of Homer (1974-1975), he published various editions of graphic works, and experimented with combinations of diverse materials always supplemented with language and text.  The collage Verkrachte vrouw bleek niet dood is one result of this investigative process.

    It was while Cox was in Boston - he was based there from 1956 to 1974 - that his girlfriend Marlene was victim of an assault.  Back in Belgium he tried to in a way process this violent trauma.  In Verkrachte vrouw bleek niet dood, Jan Cox reflects on these emotions via the case of Henriette D. in the town of Lier (1974).  The related press cutting accompanies the sketchily rendered, tormented female figure.  This theme was also further elaborated in a similar undated collage.

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